Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 47,687
Thanks: 27,647
Thanked 14,458 Times in 10,262 Posts
|
re: Children’s Hospital, Nurseries & Schools Destroyed Devastating Attack
Don't Test Us -Britain Defence Secretary Warns PUTIN After Hints of Deadly Nuclear Strike
Putin hints at deadly nuclear strike on the West
Don’t Test Britain, Defence Secretary Warns Putin -
Being Prepared: Downing Street Dusts Off 'Cold War Plans'
The Telegraph UK 6 MAR 2022
In a Cosy Chat With Air Stewardesses, Vladimir Putin Hints at Deadly Nuclear Strike on The West
Vladimir Putin has hinted at a nuclear strike on the West at a cosy meeting with air stewardesses gathered around a table laden with teapots and flowers.
In contrast to the Russian president’s recent public appearances – snarling at Western leaders from the end of his metres-long Kremlin table, or distanced even from his own ministers – a relaxed Putin sat close to the Aeroflot employees as he updated them on the situation in Ukraine.
The televised appearance came as Britain advised all citizens still in Russia to leave the country, after Moscow brought in draconian new restrictions on freedom of speech and the media. The economy is also tanking under Western sanctions.
“Now we are hearing about a no-fly zone … but this is not possible,” Putin told the all-female group after Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, appealed to the West to impose one.
“Any movement in this direction will be considered a participation in an armed conflict.”
He added that imposing a no-fly zone would have “colossal and catastrophic consequences not only for Europe but also the whole world”, in a hint at a nuclear strike. He ordered Russia’s nuclear deterrent on to high alert last week, amid fierce resistance to his invasion of Ukraine.
The comments on Saturday came during a visit to a training centre of Aeroflot, Russia’s national airline, ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. The day is a public holiday in Russia and the president regularly meets with female workers at such events in the run-up to the occasion.
Seated in a conference room stuffed with oversized pot plants, Putin told the women he had had the chance to inspect training simulators at the centre. “I moved some joysticks, it was really great,” he said to the dozen or so employees, many wearing their stewardess uniforms, which still feature the Soviet hammer and sickle.
Putin also denied reports that he was about to impose martial law on Russia for the first time since the Second World War. He did not, however, rule it out.
“Martial law can be imposed … in the event of external aggression, including particular regions where military action is taking place,” he said. “We are not in such a situation and I hope that it will not happen.”
Aeroflot meanwhile announced it would cancel all international flights, with the exception of those to Belarus, in the face of sanctions.
With Russia’s borders closing and relations with the West deteriorating to their worst since the grim days of the Cold War, commentators have said that a new Iron Curtain is descending across Europe.
“If your presence in Russia is not essential, we strongly advise that you consider leaving by remaining commercial routes,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
But Britons living in Moscow said that the few flights still servicing Russia were booked out and finding escape routes was more and more difficult. European countries have banned Russian planes and European airliners have cut flights to Russia.
One Briton who has lived in Moscow for around 20 years told The Telegraph that some expats were staying, but that most were trying to escape.
“Those who are getting out are not sure if they will ever return,” he said from Moscow. “People are having to think about what to do with belongings and pets, and rented apartments. It’s not quite ‘last helicopter out of Saigon’ but it’s a very unsettling moment.”
There have been unconfirmed reports of some flights to Turkey and the South Caucasus being turned around before they leave Russian airspace and of Russia’s land borders closing.
Other flights to Russia from the Caribbean are having to fly around ICELAND before they can reach Russian airspace
Thousands of Russians living in the larger cities are also fleeing.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace Tells Putin NOT to 'Test' Britain as He Warns Russia That 'History is Littered' With Despots Who Underestimated UK and The West
The Defence Secretary said the West 'must not be afraid' of Vladimir Putin
He said Russia's leader was 'acting irrationally and inflicting horrors on Ukraine'
Mr Wallace's comments come after increasing warnings that intervention in Ukraine by the West would be considered as entering the conflict by the Kremlin
Daily Mail UK.6 MAR 2022.
Ben Wallace has told President Vladimir Putin not to test Britain, and warned Russian that 'history is littered' with despots who underestimated the UK and the West.
In an interview with The Sunday Telegraph, Mr Wallace said the West 'must not be afraid of Putin'.
He warned the Russian leader - who he said was 'acting irrationally and inflicting horrors on Ukraine' - not to 'test' the UK.
'The thing to say to Putin is don't underestimate us, don't test us,' he told the newspaper.
'History is littered with authoritarian leaders underestimating the wider West and the United Kingdom. He clearly underestimated the international community.' He added: 'If we stick together and refuse to be intimidated then I believe he will fail.'
Mr Wallace's comments come after increasing warnings that intervention in the war in Ukraine by the West would be considered as entering the conflict by the Kremlin.
On Saturday, a defiant Putin called the West's economic, diplomatic and cultural boycott of the country tantamount to a declaration of war.
He also warned that his regime would consider any third-party declaration of a no-fly zone as 'participation in the armed conflict'.
In an astonishing display of sabre-rattling, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned London: 'Russia will not forget Britain's desire to co-operate with ultra-nationalist forces in Ukraine and the supply of British weapons to the Kiev regime'.
She added: 'The sanctions hysteria in which London plays one of the leading, if not the main, roles, leaves us no choice but to take proportionately tough retaliatory measures. London has made a final choice of open confrontation with Russia.
'Such a development convinces us once more that Russophobia and the aim to undermine the Russian state are integral elements of Britain's foreign policy.'
On the possibility of a no-fly zone, Mr Putin said Russia would view 'any move in this direction' as an intervention that 'will pose a threat to our service members'.
'That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are,' he said.
However, Ukraine has repeatedly said the move is the only way to stop more deaths.
On Saturday, a defiant Putin (pictured) called the West's economic, diplomatic and cultural boycott of the country tantamount to a declaration of war
NATO allies have ruled out implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine amid fears it could prompt an all-out war with nuclear-armed Russia.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, in an interview with the Sunday Express, said the Ukrainian conflict was the 'struggle of our generation'.
She said: 'We will continue to support them (the Ukrainians) through thick and thin. We are there for the long haul.
'This is the struggle of our generation. What we are seeing taking place on the streets of Europe is something we have never experienced before in my lifetime. It is the fight for freedom and democracy, and sovereignty and self-determination.'
Earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson heaped praise on the response of the British public to the war in Ukraine as he echoed the view that Mr Putin would fail.
The Prime Minister said it was 'absolutely vital that Vladimir Putin understands that this hideous, barbarous assault cannot succeed and that he will fail'.
In a video message on Twitter, Mr Johnson said: 'I want to thank businesses, community groups, individuals, sports clubs, who've been coming together to support Ukraine.
'I think of the group in Northern Ireland that's got a local warehouse as a centre for supplies to go to the war zone, I think of Inna Schorr, a London-based Ukrainian who's raising thousands of pounds, while her own family are still back in Ukraine.
'And don't forget to for all Ukrainian families here in in the UK, we have ways that you can bring your wider relatives back to the UK.'
Demonstrators hold a banner and a Ukranian national flag as they gather in Trafalgar square in central London on March 5, 2022 to take part in a rally to show their support for Ukraine and to protest against Russia's invasion of the country
British Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, alongside with Danish Minister of Defence Morten Boedskov and his Swedish counterpart Peter Hultqvist greets some of the crew members during a visit at the Danish frigate Niels Juel in Copenhagen, Denmark March 4
The money raised by the Mail Force charity ¿ in record-breaking time ¿ has already been put to good use, with mothers and children arriving over the border to Slovakia yesterday greeted by aid workers funded by our generous readers
More than £85 million has now been raised to provide aid for Ukraine through the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), in what has been described as an 'absolutely incredible' show of support from the UK public.
The Government has pledged to match public donations to the appeal pound-for-pound up to £25 million.
Mr Johnson's thank you message came as hundreds of people gathered in cities across the country to protest against Russia's assault on Ukraine.
In London's Trafalgar Square, the Ukrainian national anthem was sung and 'stop Putin, stop the war' chanted, as demonstrators draped themselves in the country's flag.
Volodymyr Shevetovskyy, 31, and his girlfriend Nadiia Soshenko, 27, from Kyiv, said they were grateful for support from western countries but called for a no-fly zone to be imposed over Ukraine.
Ms Soshenko told the PA news agency: 'There are already a lot of deaths in our country.
'Nato is afraid to close the skies saying that they're afraid to start the third world war.
'Excuse me, what's happening right now? Why the whole world can't stop one insane, mad person? I just honestly do not understand why our people are dying, are dying for what?'
Earlier on Saturday, it had been announced a temporary ceasefire had been called in order for civilians in Mariupol, a strategic port in the south east, and the eastern city of Volnovakha, to escape the fighting.
However, this failed to hold, with Mariupol mayor Vadym Boychenko claiming thousands of people had gathered for safe passage out of the city and buses were departing when shelling began.
Mr Putin accused Ukraine of sabotaging the evacuation.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the proposed ceasefire was 'likely an attempt to deflect international condemnation while resetting its force for renewed offensive activity'.
In an intelligence update on Saturday afternoon, the MoD said: 'By accusing Ukraine of breaking the agreement, Russia is likely seeking to shift responsibility for current and future civilian casualties in the city.'
|